A woman from Broxtowe has invented a protective arm sleeve which has garnered the attention from the NHS and numerous international health care organisations.

Charise Mullings worked in the care sector for seven years, where she realised carers were operating without the correct safety measures to protect against scratches and bites which could lead to potentially "life-threatening" infections.

The 33-year-old previously worked in dementia care, where herself and colleagues would sustain "bites and cuts" to their arms - and that was when the idea for GIPskins, an acronym for Grip Infection Protection, was born.

Without prior experience in the business world, she said she simply "learned as I went along" and invented a sleeve that has an anti-microbial, scratch-proof coating for those who might be at risk.

"It's the hard hat of the care industry," said Ms Mullings. "I sourced a company in Derby that makes the material for me now. At first it was a real Dragons Den moment, but the managers there saw I had researched the idea and it had potential.

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HEALTH IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

"It's a mandatory thing - that care workers have protection - that's why there are a lot of compensation claims. Just recently we had a care worker who had contracted Monkey Pox, as her gloves only covered her hands."

Ms Mullings began researching the idea three years ago and within the last year, she has signed contracts with Countrywide Healthcare, a leading supplier of care home and nursing goods in the UK, NHS hospitals in Sheffield and Northamptonshire, and even a health care company in South Africa.

The sleeves are sold at a price of £34.99 as to make them "affordable" and they are now being used by Nottinghamshire Police's custody officers, mental health nurses and teachers, hospital nurses and even vets all across Europe.

Ms Mullings added: "Care homes used to just say 'it was 'part of the job' to receive injuries and get bodily fluids all over your arms. But that is not the case. It breaches safety guidelines.

"I've invented this from a passion for caring. It particularly helps when you are washing patients as most people do not like skin-to-skin contact in an intimate area but don't like latex gloves, so it provides an alternative.

Charise with police who will be using her product (Image: Charise Mullings)

"It has a three-way benefit. It helps the patients, it helps the carer and it also helps the organisation prevent injury claims against them.

"I had a lot of support from friends and family at first. It was really difficult to get financial support, but it has really taken off in the last year.

"I sometimes wonder if the care industry was male dominated, how quickly something would have been done. It's giving carers and nurses the protection they deserve.

"The care industry has been suffering with a need for more staff, so making the conditions more pleasant for them will help I hope."

On February 22, Ms Mullings paid a visit to Nottinghamshire Police's Bridewell custody suite, where she donated numerous GIP skins to the custody officers.